OpenAI spent over $2.22 million on lobbying efforts during the first half of 2026. This expenditure marks a significant increase compared to previous periods as the company seeks to influence AI legislation in the United States and abroad.
The company is employing a strategy termed reverse federalism, focusing on state-level regulations in California and New York to establish de facto national standards. In California, OpenAI is supporting four specific bills covering model assessments, auditor standards, child safety, and biological threat screening.
CEO Sam Altman held meetings with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in June and July 2026. The discussions focused on potential executive orders and safety frameworks that include mandatory cybersecurity standards and pre-deployment risk assessments.
In Europe, OpenAI’s chief lobbyist Tom Duff Gordon urged the UK government on September 14, 2026, to adopt binding AI safety laws. The company aims to influence the alignment of UK regulations with those of the European Union, citing national security and cybersecurity as primary drivers.
